Prologue: A Promising Soul

Nile Eveston found himself struggling not to let the all-inclusive buffet go to his head. He, like many, was waiting in line for what certainly wasn’t the first plate of the meal, and most likely wouldn’t be the last. Even though the room and board had been provided alongside the free cruise ticket, he still viewed the plethora of countertops practically overflowing with food as a challenge to be overcome.

The cruise in question was intended to travel from the coast of Maine north to the artificial islands of Subarctic North America, officially a blacklisted location by any satellite imaging system due to its military ties. The program Nile found himself alienated within had been a joint research initiative between marine ecologists, marine biologists, and climate change experts seeking to understand the relationship between the shifting climates and the changes in the undersea ecological structures and shifting organismal biological systems. While Nile had experience with biological research, his own area of expertise had been more human-centric, and thus while he could superficially follow the many posters and seminars of the quite energetic scientific crowd, much of it went well over his head.

Despite having his own research involvements to speak of at length, Nile knew he never quite fit in with the academic types, always absorbed into research they could use to further their understanding in a particular subgenre of an already niche field. He would much rather have his hands dirty doing more involved work that could be used for practical purposes. He had spent his days training and studying to be a doctor, at night involving himself in a lab in a hospital pursuing the lengthening of natural lifespans in plant life to establish the baseline technology to eventually migrate to humans. He was obsessed, enough to sign away his life to the US military to help fund this particular academic venture when scholarships threatened to indebt him for life.

Knowing he was being shipped to his first overseas deployment as an officer of the air force, the buffets were a luxury that would not be afforded in the coming days. Hell, the cruise line itself was a luxury, as air force members were typically flown out to their deployment on the cheapest available option, unless money was traded behind closed doors of course. It was only due to the fortune of a last minute cancellation on a nonrefundable ticket to the month-long research exchange that allowed Nile this final paradise of freedom before his military life began in earnest. The government was hesitant to allow him this privilege, but when they found out it would be covered without any payments on their behalf, they were quick to cede the issue.

Thus did Nile leave for his deployment two weeks earlier than expected, planning to arrive at the base more plump than he had left for it. Not that he would complain one way or another. He would be far from the largest in the new officer group. The air force had a history of being one of the cozier branches of the military to join, and in an era long acquainted with peacetime the richer among the populace used their financial sway to loosen the requirements for their children to be admitted into the officer schools. This in turn would jumpstart the next generation of old money into the political realm, as most members of Congress were now composed of sons and daughters of rich CEOs given clout through their service.

Nile, for his part, had no interest in the politics that would surely be at play from the time the new faces touched down on Arctic Naval-Base #5. He wanted nothing more than to make it through his service, although he would need to serve as many years as it took to finish his medical degree. Medical school had been a quick 8 years, but Nile knew the next 8 would be anything but. He sighed, knowing his hairs would be more gray than black by the time he could hang his officer uniform for the last time.

“Looks like 36 is when my life really begins,” he bemoaned.

“Mister, you look too young to be 36.” A childish voice came from behind. Nile turned, and had to force his head down to see a little boy in a yellow-striped shirt and the smallest pair of overalls he’d ever seen, delicately holding a plate filled with macaroni and cheese, and nothing else despite the varied smorgasbord offered to him.

Nile chuckled at the sight. “I’m only 28 now, kid. Just thinking about the future is all. Besides, where are your parents? Don’t tell me you boarded this ship and got separated?”

“No, they just got distracted at a big poster and talked for a long time. I was hungry so mom told me to go eat some food. I got this plate all by myself!” He held up his plate with much ado, as if to brag about the treasure trove he managed to collect.

“Looks delicious! Are you sure you don’t want anything else? I can grab you some other food if you want,” Nile replied, raising the pitch of his voice ever so slightly.

“No thanks, mister. Mom said not to take food from strangers. This is all I want, so no thank you.”

Well, at least he has good manners, Nile thought. Should help to get him far.

“Well, I’m still worried about a kid running around this big ship without someone to watch out for him. At least let me wait with you here until your parents get done. I’ve been to a few events like this so I know how long people can get distracted for.”

The kid smiled and thanked him. Nile finished grabbing a pork rib from a steaming tray and escorted the child over to a column away from the line of people and food.

From there we could keep our eyes on any pathway someone would have to walk past to get to the buffet. Or at least, I can keep my eyes open while this kid shovels food into his mouth like it’s about to disappear.

“Remember to breathe, kid.”

The child didn’t stop chewing, instead lifting one thumb in the air for a brief moment.

After approximately 20 minutes of waiting by the column, the child’s eyes looked up brightly as he heard someone calling for him.

“Al! Albert, where did you run off to?” A motherly shout could be heard from 50 feet away. The child, Al, ran off in pursuit of the voice and jumped at the woman calling for him.

Nile kept watching long enough to see a well dressed man follow the woman and pick up the child in one arm. Seeing the kid rejoined with his family, Nile sat down at an open table with his now half-eaten plate and finished his meal. Once finished, he began walking back to his room, seeing in the corner of his eye the child sitting with his parents, looking around as if searching for something.

Later that night, belly filled to bursting, Nile practiced in his head the various pleasantries and greetings he would need to use to best keep his distance from the other officers without making offense. Technically titled a medical officer, Nile hoped his distinction in rank might serve to keep him separated from the children fresh out of boarding school trying to name a price enticing enough to purchase Nile into fulfilling their duties for them.

“If only there were some way to get out of this commitment,” he thought as he drifted off to sleep.

His wish certainly came true. Little did he know he would never make it to the base.

*****

“ATTENTION ALL GUESTS AND CREW. PLEASE FORM AN ORDERLY FILE TO THE NEAREST LIFE RAFT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. REPEAT. ATTENTION ALL…”

It was the shrill, monotonous voice coming from the loud speaker that woke him.

“What the hell?” Glancing half-awake out the blinds of his small, circular window, Nile saw the night sky was still as dark as ink.

No, he noticed, there’s a dim orange light coming from the peripheral.

Hurriedly throwing on his shirt and slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he threw open his door only to be faced with a crowd of people, unmoving but nonetheless scared and panicking as they followed the dictations of the all surrounding voice. Despite their clear concerns, the swarm of bodies continued to shamble their way to the dedicated emergency exit doors. Nile crammed himself into the nebulous bodies of the crowd, doing his best to nudge forward progress into the people ahead of him, to little avail.

A voice could be heard within the quiet cacophony of mutterings and whispers, seemingly vocalizing a silently agreed upon sentiment. “Dammit, I swear if they woke us all up because some jackass couldn’t help but burn their popcorn too close to the fire alarm, I’m gonna be pissed.” That seemed to bring some levity to the crowd. Or rather, it did.

“FIRE! THERE’S A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE ROOM!”

Like a starter gun at a track meet, the shout initiated a chain reaction that sparked to life the mob in short order. Not another word was said that could be heard, but the sentiment was clear: it was every man for themselves. People rushed forward, regardless of the well being of anyone in front of - or more importantly, beneath- them as they ran. Nile himself was swept up in the flurry of the tidal wave of bodies forcing each other ever forward. Over the clammer, he heard a familiar voice calling out.

“MOM! MOM, DAD, ANYBODY, PLEASE HELP!”

The voice came from under Nile, and as he was rushed by he saw a familiar set of overalls. In one motion he dropped his pack and jumped to the side , forcing himself against the unmoving wall as the crowd surged ever onward.

He knew the kid wouldn’t hold up against the pounding feet. Hell, it was a miracle the boy could still shout as it was. Still, Nile knew where the body was, or at least knew where to start. Throwing himself back into and against the streaming crowd, he felt the bodies batter against him, and despite his efforts he fell. As the feet pummeled him mercilessly, he managed to force his head up and meet the gaze of the child, Al, he helped that same evening. Without a thought, Nile used everything he had and dove onto Al to cover him from the endless barrage. Nile’s world became pain as he felt bones creak and strain before breaking entirely. Still, he covered the boy, before feeling an unfortunately steel-toed boot connect with his temple. Then his world became black.

It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It… it’s so bright?